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Instructions to Create Discussions Using AI Design Assistant

The Blackboard Ultra AI Design Assistant tool can help instructors with building content for their courses. One of the features of the AI design assistant tool is the ability for it to generate discussion prompts . These prompts require the use of cognitive processes such as analyze or create in their response. This instructs students to use the knowledge they have acquired and high-level explanations in their discussion responses. instructional items. These generated items support instructors in creating instructions for student discussion.

Step 1

In the course content area, click on the purple plus icon to begin the process of using the AI Design assistant by creating to generate a new discussion. Image Removed

Step 2

Select Create in the dialog pop up box. 

Image showing the Create Item link in the dialog box when the purple plus icon is selected on the Course Content page.Image RemovedImage shows a purple line that reveals a pop-up dialog box of items when it is clicked. An arrow points toward the far left end of the purple line. Another orange arrow points at the Create item in the pop-up dialog box. Image Added

Step 3

TheCreate Item dialog box will appear with a list of items. Look for the Participation and Engagement sub-section and select Discussion.

Image RemovedAn orange arrow points toward the discussion link under the participation and engagement section. Image Added

Step 4 

Select the Auto-generate button. This buttons stands out as a black button on the right hand side of the New Discussion title. 

Image RemovedAn arrow points toward the generated button on the New Discussion page. Image Added

Step 5

Once you click the AutoAfter clicking the auto-generate button , you will be brought to the discussion generator panel. You can adjust some settings to customize the prompt that is generated for your discussion:

  1. Description:  The prompts are based on the title of the course and the description box. You can enter a set of keywords or text (such as text from a document from which you would like the discussion to be based). 
  2. Select course items: click the box next to course item(s) that you want to be used as context for the creation of the prompt
  3. Desired Cognitive Level: Use the dropdown menu to select which cognitive skill from Bloom's Taxonomy the prompts will use: "Inspire me" (combination of all options) or apply, analyze, create, and evaluate.
  4. Complexity: This setting is meant to adjust the level of sophistication for the vocabulary and content terms used in the generated prompt.  While this feature does sometimes render more complex results, it can be inconsistent and we hope to see this feature further developed and refined in the future. 
  5. Generate Discussion title: By default a title for the discussion is created,  if you want to chose then name you can uncheck the box.

Once you have selected the prompt you want to use, select the Generate button.

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Example of Generated Prompts

Step 5 notes the prompt areas where you enter/manipulate your prompts on the left side of the page. The right side of the page generates discussion ideas for your perusal. You may wish to select an option that is generated, and then click the Add button (located on the lower right-side of the generated content).

Image Removedthe Auto-Generate Discussion page should appear.

This image shows the left panel of modifiable items of the Auto-Generate Discussion page. It also shows examples of generated discussion output on the right side of the page. Image Added

On the right of the page you will see several generated examples to choose from. You can click on these and then select the Add button that is directly at the bottom of the right side of the page.

On the left panel of the page, these are areas that you can modify if you choose not to use the generated examples. You can modify the:

Description - you can enter a description of what you want to generate for your discussion

Select course items - if you have past discussion items, clicking on this area will lead you to an item list to choose from.

Desired cognitive level - you can select from a range of learning actions such as analyze, create, etc. to influence your generated outputs. Inspire me! is the default option that result in the generated items you automatically see on the right side of the page.

Complexity - slide the purple bar from low to high to adjust the complexity of the generated discussion item.

Advanced options - you can change the language of the generated output here.

When you have made the changes on the left panel, select the Generate button to see the refreshed generated outputs on the right side of the page.

Then select the outputs you like then click the Add button.

Adding Settings 

Once you have selected

and/or modify

your

discussion prompt, you may want to make some changes to settings relating to the discussion. The Discussion Settings are located on the right-side of the Discussion Content page. Click on the setting wheelImage Removedto access setting features. Some key discussion settings features include:
  • setting the due date and the amount of submission attempts
  • setting the form of grade system (points, percentage, complete/incomplete, SU letter)
  • setting the maximum points 
  • deciding to automatically post grade

Remember to click the Save button to save all changes made. 

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Notetitle

generated discussion outputs visit the Discussions page to set up your discussion settings.

Note

Important Information

All AI-generated information is opened to inaccuracy and bias. Your role as the expert and instructor of the course is to check and examine all content generated by the Design Assistant to ensure that information provided for learners is clear, accurate, and without bias.